PALAKKAD: The police have launched an investigation into a complaint by an 18-year-old girl who appeared for the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) on Sunday at a higher secondary school here accusing a male external invigilator of harassment.

As per the complaint, the invigilator forced her to remove her inner-wear with metal hook behind a makeshift screen on the school campus. He allegedly stared at her in an inappropriate manner during the process.

Talking to The Hindu, Palakkad North sub-inspector R Ranjith said the investigators were in touch with the regional office of the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) to identify the external invigilator.

The complainant said the invigilator had forced her and 25 others who appeared for the test at Lions Public School at Koppam in Palakkad to remove their inner-wear behind a makeshift screen since they had metal hooks on them. She said the harassment had prevented her from successfully completing the test.

A case under Section 509 of the Indian Penal Code (word, gesture or act intending to insult the modesty of a woman) has been registered against the invigilator and more Sections would be applied based on investigation.

The complainant has demanded invoking of Section 354 (sexual harassment) against the invigilator. “We have sent officials to the regional CBSE office to get details of the invigilator. Further action would be taken in a speedy manner,” said the sub-inspector. “The school said all the invigilators were women, barring an external observer from the CBSE. Now we are in the process of verifying his identity,” said Ranjith.